"White House: Obama Won't Make Cautious Court Pick"

[Clio the Leo]

White House: Obama Won't Make Cautious Court Pick
Christina Bellantoni | April 20, 2010, 11:14AM

President Obama thinks Republicans will engage in a full battle over his Supreme Court nominee regardless of the person's ideological leanings, and in some ways "that realization is liberating for the president" to choose whomever he pleases, an administration official told TPMDC.

In comments that are at odds with the conventional wisdom about what Obama needs to do to make sure the Senate confirms his nominee to replace John Paul Stevens, a White House official involved in the confirmation process tells TPMDC that the President isn't taking a cautious approach to selecting a nominee. Despite having one less Democrat in the Senate than when Sonia Sotomayor was confirmed last year, the administration isn't limiting itself to reviewing only centrist candidates for the court vacancy, the official said.

"It doesn't matter who he chooses, there is going to be a big 'ol fight over it. So he doesn't have to get sidetracked by those sorts of concerns," the official told me. The GOP has attempted to obstruct "anything of consequence" put forth by the Obama administration since he took office, the official said. "The president is making this decision with a pretty clear view that whoever he chooses is going to provoke a strong reaction on the right," the official added.

The White House seems confident that because Democrats allowed votes on President George W. Bush's nominees, the 41 Senate Republicans won't stand in the way with the highly unusual judicial filibuster this year. After all, nine GOPers voted in favor of Sotomayor last summer in a relatively smooth fight for the president's first Supreme Court nominee. But this is a different year. Obama isn't just down one Democrat in the Senate, he's facing a frustrated electorate, a polarized nation and looming midterm elections that have Democrats from both chambers on the ropes.

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/04/wh-gops-recent-obstruction-liberating-for-obama-to-make-supreme-court-choice-without-bending-to-repu.php?ref=fpa

Clearly this can only mean one thing .... he's putting Rachel Maddow on the bench! (but she still gets to do her show! lol)

..... in my dreams anyway.

[Cant trust em]

1. That's not my gut feeling, but I hope he proves me wrong. nt

[rhett o rick]

2. Since the GOP will filibuster who ever he selects, it should be "liberating".

Why dont I think it will? His choice of Justice Sotomayor, is a moderate and more conservative that Souter thus moving the court to the right. I suspect he will pick someone again moderate and more conservative than Stevens and again moving the court to the right. Just sayin

[Cha]

3. Thank you.. We'll see what happens. nt

[ruggerson]

4. let's hope they are correct

n/t

[vaberella]

9. He did nominate Sotomayor and Liu if that's any sort of relief.

The man hasn't made a bad choice so far.

[ruggerson]

12. I've liked a lot pf what I've read of Sotomayor's questions during oral arguments

my preference, fwiw, this time around is an academic. I'm rooting for Karlan, but I realize it's highly unlikely.

[Thrill]

5. Well go with Pam Karlan or Kathleen Sullivan then

Or Cass Sustein

[Sebastian Doyle]

23. Hell no on Sunstein

Seriously, there's nothing remotely "liberal" or "progressive" about that assclown.

[harun]

6. Woohoo!!! Bring out Michael Moore, Dennis Kucinich or Sean Penn FTW!!!!!!!

Not holding my breath for those picks, just sayin.

[saltpoint]

7. Wood, Sears, or Karlan would likely be first picks for me, but so far the

White House hasn't rung up for my input.

The DUers who suggest that the Pukes will throw a temper tantrum no matter which candidate is finally nominated seem to me to be calling it right.

The Republicans can still make a lot of noise and cause some serious obstruction but ultimately I hope the voters hold them accountable.

[Hutzpa]

8. It could even be Keith O

you never know Clio, you n.e.v.e.r. k.n.o.w...:evilgrin:

[Clio the Leo]

11. lol, he could Tweet from the bench! NT

[Robb]

19. LOL

...Justice_KeithO: omg someone close a window, I should've worn pants. Courage! :D

[Clio the Leo]

31. lol NT

[Hutzpa]

20. Justice Keith O

the First Supreme Court 'Tweeter' Justice. :rofl:

[jenmito]

10. K&R. Give us another winner! n/t

[backscatter712]

13. Good for him!

Really, the strategy at this point of the game shouldn't be to be inoffensive.

If I were Obama (and I think Obama agrees on this), I'd go out of my way to pick fights with the GOP right now.

Over financial reform, over the SCOTUS nominee, over immigration reform. Attack hard, drive wedges, show the world he can throw punches.

[ginnyinWI]

14. the repubs need to learn that they're making themselves irrelevant

by being the party of NO. Nobody's gonna play with them anymore unless they start showing some sign that they'll be reasonable.

[Grand Taurean]

15. Leah Sears?

Consider it.

[Divine Discontent]

16. Rachel's worth the rec!

[HCE1947]

17. Rachel would be great on the bench

What he really needs to do is nominate a real liberal. I know that polls are not crazy about a "liberal," but if you break down the numbers, the majority favor the liberal side rather than the conservative.

We need a real liberal to replace Stevens.

[NJmaverick]

18. K & R!

[ShortnFiery]

21. LOL, No Sale.

[BrklynLiberal]

22. I sure hope that I am pleasantly surprised and the repukes are really, really pissed.

[polichick]

24. Hope the release of this info isn't just a tactic so they'll be relieved....

...when it's not a true leftie.

[saracat]

25. I think this means Janet Napolitano. She is very obvious with her defense of choice

[ChimpersMcSmirkers]

26. He's got nothing to lose and needs to make it count. I think we'll see an interesting pick.

[ProgressOnTheMove]

27. If they could clone Reagan they'd oppose him, DK for supreme court let's go all the way.

[BreweryYardRat]

28. Makes sense.

Repubs are going to obstruct, delay, piss, and whine no matter who he nominates. Might as well put an ultra-liberal on the bench.

[Major Hogwash]

29. This means I have a chance! OMG!

Almost as much of a chance as Jim Carrey had in "Dumb and Dumber" when he was talking to Lauren Holly.

Lloyd: What do you think the chances are of a guy like you and a girl like me... ending up together?

Mary: Well, Lloyd, that's difficult to say. I mean, we don't really...

Lloyd: Hit me with it! Just give it to me straight! I came a long way just to see you, Mary. The least you can do is level with me. What are my chances?

Mary: Not good.

Lloyd: You mean, not good like one out of a hundred?

Mary: I'd say more like one out of a million.

Lloyd: So you're telling me there's a chance... *YEAH!*

[jenmito]

30. Yeah, right. He's going to pick a Corporatist. That should be obvious by now.

:sarcasm: